Figuring Out My HRT Journey...
- mariekesteen
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
#HRT #HRTsupport #perimenopause #menopause #hormonetherapy #respectingyourbioinduviduality #womenshealth #BHRT #bioidenticalhormones #agegracefully #proaging #healthyaging
I’ve been taking progesterone for about five years now, and it really helped improve my sleep initially, as well as ease irritability and other PMS symptoms. I’m pretty sure it’s also helped keep my hormonal migraines at bay - migraines I struggled with for many years.
Beginning of this year, I skipped a cycle and started experiencing some vaginal itchiness, which made me wonder if it was dryness. That’s when I thought, “It’s time to start estradiol!”
I reached out to my OB/GYN to ask for a prescription, but he was reluctant. So I suggested doing a blood test to check my hormone levels - and indeed my estrogen was low. His response was, “Menopause isn’t installed yet,” and he didn’t want me to start estradiol because I wasn’t officially in menopause. (I think many of us have been there...) I insisted, and eventually, he gave me the prescription.
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✔ Understand if HRT is safe for you
✔ Learn where to access bioidentical options
✔ Know how to use them properly
✔ Discover what to do if HRT isn’t your path
I didn’t start using it right away because my cycles had gotten back on track. But then I started having migraines in the middle of my cycle - 3x in a row. It was definitely not a coincidence and made me determined to start estradiol. I started with just a third of a pump.
I have to say, I didn’t feel great - I mean, I felt okay overall, but the tender, swollen breasts were awful - made me feel like a cow! Sorry, that’s just how I feel. I also noticed I was getting a short fuse. Because of that, I started my progesterone earlier than usual -before my second cycle week even began. I didn’t have migraines mid-cycle that month, but then they showed up right before my period.
I was honestly disappointed with this experience. But then I reminded myself to dial it back and consider my bio-individuality.
I have a slow COMT gene and I’m missing a couple of GSTM genes responsible for phase II liver detoxification. This probably sounds like Star Trek to you, but basically, it means I’m a very slow detoxer, and that affects how I process hormones - I excrete them very slowly.
That’s not great if you’re taking hormone therapy because you don’t want hormones to build up in your body. So, keeping that in mind, I tried again the next month with a third of a pump of estradiol every other day (not daily), and I took a daily supplement to support my liver and hormone excretion.
This time: no migraines for 2 months in a row and no tender, swollen breasts!
I’m sharing this to help you understand that everyone is unique, and hormone therapy or supplements work differently for each person. It’s so important to consider your bio-individuality to get HRT right. There is definitely a formula that works for you, and if you haven’t found it yet, don’t give up - sometimes it just takes a bit of tweaking to get there.
And this is exactly why I created my Get HRT Right program. Too often, women are left feeling frustrated, confused, or even dismissed when it comes to hormone therapy - when the truth is, it takes some investigating, a little fine-tuning, and the right guidance to make it work for your unique body.
In just two weeks, I’ll help you understand the different types of HRT, how to know if it’s safe for you, where to access it, and how to use it without guesswork. If you’ve been wondering whether HRT could be your missing piece, this program will give you the clarity and confidence you deserve.
Get HRT Right will help you:
✔ Understand if HRT is safe for you
✔ Learn where to access bioidentical options
✔ Know how to use them properly
✔ Discover what to do if HRT isn’t your path